I bring you my 2005 Holiday Hiker Wish list. I tried to
choose gifts that are unique, fun and not your average fare. The hikers on your
list will be presently surprised to unwrap anything on this gift list.
Books & a DVD
Lipsmackin’ Backpackin’ by Christine Conners
The Lipsmackin’ series is the best series of hiking cookbooks around.
Beyond Backpacking by Ray Jardine
This is the book that started it all. The ultralightweight backpacking bible.
Allen and Mike’s Really Cool Backpackin’ Book
This book is soon to become a classic and it should be. Great info for new hikers and vets alike, also some of the best illustrations EVAR.
Lighten Up! by Don Ladigin
Follows in the tradition of Allen and Mike’s Really Cool Backpackin’ book with illustrations by Mike. This is a new release and a must for all hiking book collectors.
Trail Food by Alan S. Kesselheim
This is hands-down thee best book for creating and packing dehydrated backpacking meals. I cannot stress how useful this book is.
Hiking the Triple Crown by Karen Berger
This is the book for all the thru-hikers on your list.. Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail & The Continental Divide Trail this book details them all.
2000 Miles to Maine: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail
I first saw this DVD at ALDHA in 2003. After viewing this hilarious DVD I had to buy it and I have shown it to all my hiking friends and family. Any AT fan will enjoy this gem.
Cooking- Hiker love to eat!
Pack Lite Foods – All Natural Freeze Dried and Dehydrated
Vegetarian & Vegan Hiking Meals
If you’re not a big overnight backpacker I am sorry to let you
in on the little secret. Most hikers don’t really use prepackaged meals.
Prepackaged meals are very expensive, taste like cardboard and often aren’t
veg*n. But most packers still buy a “lottery ticket” every once and a while
hoping to find a meal that is worth carrying in there pack. Pack Lite may finally
be the holy grail of good prepackaged foods. So spoil your hiker this holiday
with some gourmet, light weight, meals that are all either vegetarian or vegan.
Built NY BYO Bags REI - $10-$19
These are soft neoprene carrying coolers for your favorite
wine or six-pack. They come in three different designs: Single Wine, Double
Wine, and Six-pack
Camper’s Dream Ice Cream Ball REI
- $19.99
This is a durable plastic ball that you fill with ice, salt
and cream then play around for 20 min and instant outdoor ice cream! Cool.
Snow Peak Trek 700 Titanium REI - $29.99
I hope the guy in Japan who invented this beauty has one of those Budweiser “Real Men of Genius” song written after him someday. This is not only a great size Ti cup that is large enough for your favorite hot beverage but also large enough to cook up some Easy-Mac. The cup has a beautiful lid that has a build in strainer, can be used to hold a Ti spoon, and a hook so it can hanging off the cup so you don’t have to find a spot to put your lid on the ground!
Snow Peak Collapsible Chopsticks Backcountygear.com
– $19.99
Your hiker will be the envy of all their hiker geek friends
when they are chowing down their Ramen Noodles with these!
Gear - Two Quick and Easy Choices
Beyond Fleece – Custom Made Jacket – BIG AND TALL ALERT!!!
Yes when you walk into any hiking store you can go laugh at
the ridiculous prices of high-end fleeces. Beyond Fleece makes user specified
made to order customized fleeces for the same price or less of most name brand
technical jackets. Your hiker will not only be able to give beyond fleece there
measurements but use there very cool online interface to customize features
such as colors, fabric reinforcements, ARMPIT ZIPS!, and a hood. This a great item for big and tall hikers who go through
hell trying to find any decent fall and winter jackets to fit them. Gift
certificates are available in all amounts. Jackets run from $90 for a light
shell to $210+ for a heavy shell with add-ons.
Photon LED Lights
These quarter size led lights pack a lot of punch. The
battery lasts forever and different color light are useful for different
things such as using red for better night vision.
They carry these at REI and Meijer.
REI - $9.99ea
Or for a better deal get the generic led lights
at Brasslite
Brasslite - 1 for $3.00 or 4 for $10.00
(Including Shipping)
License
This work is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License.






Don Ladigin Says:
December 21st, 2005 at 8:34 pmVisit Don Ladigin
Thanks for featuring our book Lighten Up, on this site. One note: The illustrations are by Mike Clelland of _Allen and Mike’s Really Cool Backpackn’ Book_, not by Allen, the author of that and several other excellent books which were also illustrated by Mike.
By the way, it’s super to see our book featured on the simplehiker site as both Mike and myself are vegetarians.
Thanks, Don Ladigin
Josh Wilkins Says:
December 21st, 2005 at 8:46 pmVisit Josh Wilkins
Thanks for the correction by Don Ladigin, I have changed the correct illustrator to Mike!
Also nice to see Mr. Ladigin stopping by.